Mexican Fans Rooting for Korea? "K-Football Will Defeat Czech Republic"

[Anchor]

Securing a win in the first match is crucial for advancing to the Round of 32. Predictions suggest that the atmosphere in the stadium may work in our favor. Thanks to the "Korean Wave" sweeping the globe, there is a high possibility that our team will receive support as if they were playing a home game.

Pyeon Gwanghyeon reports from the United States.

[Reporter]

In Group A, where there are no clear favorites or underdogs, the prevailing view is that while host nation Mexico holds a slight edge, South Korea and the Czech Republic will engage in a fierce competition.

Foreign media covering our group in the U.S. and Mexico share this assessment, and journalists in Mexico, where the match will take place, generally predict a victory for South Korea.

[Korea will win.]

[They are a really good team.]

[Korea will win.]

Due to the recent "Korean Wave" in Mexico, interest in K-culture has surged, leading to expectations that our national team will receive overwhelming support from fans in Guadalajara on match day.

[Go Korea national team!]

[Paola / Foreign Correspondent in Mexico: Most Mexican fans who are familiar with K-dramas or K-pop will be cheering for Korea. It will be an important variable in the first match.]

Furthermore, it is expected that South Korea will have an advantage in adaptation, as they have been training in an environment identical to the stadium, including altitude, weather, and grass conditions.

On the other hand, the Czech Republic, currently training in Mansfield, U.S., is struggling with sweltering heat that reached 37°C (99°F) this afternoon.

[Cermar / Czech Reporter: For someone like me from the Czech Republic, it is very difficult to adapt to such hot weather. The national team players will feel the same. It is an unfamiliar situation.]

The first match, which will determine the path to the Round of 32, is considered the most critical turning point in the tournament.

The race for the first victory has begun.

(Reported by Hwang In-seok | Video by Park Jeong-sam | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.